NHRC issues conditional summon to Odisha chief secretary over plight of Indravati displaced

BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued conditional summons to Odisha chief secretary to appear before it on August 23 along with requisite reports on the steps taken to comply the directions passed since 2013 to ensure the basic human rights of displaced people in Indravati hydroelectric power project.
The rights panel passed this order on July 6 after hearing a petition filed by human rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy on November 15, 2016. This complaint pertains to the allegations of the complainant regarding denial of basic amenities to the people of around 100 villages in Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Koraput districts due to this power project.
The commission has been hearing the case since November 24, 2016 and issuing directions to different government authorities. Recently, the complainant had urged the rights panel to take up the matter with the chief secretary for unreasonable delay to comply with the recommendations of the NHRC’s Special Rapporteur regarding the project covering Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts and to send a team of officials to conduct enquiry in Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts related to this project.
Last direction was issued in May this year. The commission has observed that despite direction and subsequent reminder, the chief secretary has failed to submit the requisite report till date.
“Taking serious view of the nonresponsive attitude of the aforesaid authority, the commission directs its registry to issue summons to the chief secretary to appear before it on August 23 along with requisite reports. If the commission receives the requisite reports on or before August 16, the personal appearance of the concerned authority shall stand dispensed with,” said the order.